Voice of America, 98-10-22

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From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO SITUATION (L ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

[02] NATO-KOSOVO (S/L VER) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

[03] TURKEY/U-S/OIL PIPELINE BY CHALLISS MCDONOUGH (WASHINGTON)

[04] NY ECON WRAP (S&L) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)

[05] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] KOSOVO SITUATION (L ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

INTRO: WESTERN DIPLOMATS ARE TRYING TO LEARN WHICH SIDE IN KOSOVO -- ETHNIC-ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS OR SERB SECURITY FORCES -- IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTINUING CLASHES. MEANWHILE, AS PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM KOSOVO'S CAPITAL, PRISTINA, A TWO-THOUSAND MEMBER MONITORING MISSION FOR KOSOVO COULD BEGIN ITS WORK LATER IN THE DAY.

TEXT: A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE -- OR O-S-C-E -- SAYS THE KOSOVO MONITORING MISSION COULD BE LAUNCHED OFFICIALLY LATE THURSDAY.

THE O-S-C-E MISSION WILL MONITOR COMPLIANCE WITH A U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION. BUT THE RESOLUTION IS BEING HELD UP BY A RUSSIAN REFUSAL TO CONSIDER POSSIBLE NATO INTERVENTION IF AN AGREEMENT ON YUGOSLAV WITHDRAWAL BREAKS DOWN. MEANWHILE, WESTERN DIPLOMATS ARE TRYING TO LEARN WHO WAS FIRING SHOTS AT WHOM IN KOSOVO AS TENSIONS REMAINED HIGH ACROSS THE PROVINCE.

SERB SECURITY FORCES ARE STILL DEPLOYED ACROSS MOST OF KOSOVO. THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY -- OR K-L-A -- IS NOT PARTY TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN U-S SPECIAL ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE AND YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. THE AGREEMENT CALLED OFF THE THREAT OF NATO AIR STRIKES IN EXCHANGE FOR A PULLBACK OF SERB SECURITY FORCES FROM KOSOVO.

A SENIOR OFFICER IN THE K-L-A SAID EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT MR. HOLBROOKE HAS BEEN FOOLED BY MR. MILOSEVIC INTO CALLING OFF NATO INTERVENTION. THE K-L-A OFFICER, SHABAN SHALA, SAID ONLY NATO INTERVENTION CAN STOP THE GUERRILLA WAR IN KOSOVO.

WESTERN OFFICIALS HAVE ACCUSED THE K-L-A OF BREAKING ITS OWN CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT IN RECENT DAYS -- BY ATTACKING SERB POLICE POSITIONS ACROSS CENTRAL KOSOVO.

BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK HAS RULED OUT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE K-L-A, SAYING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CANNOT NEGOTIATE WITH PERSONS WHO HAVE GUNS.

NATO SAYS IT IS STICKING TO AN OCTOBER 27TH DEADLINE FOR YUGOSLAVIA TO PULL BACK ITS FORCES FROM KOSOVO.

YUGOSLAVIA ON SUNDAY DEPLOYED A BATTALION OF TANKS AND ANTI-AIRCRAFT WEAPONS IN CENTRAL KOSOVO. IT IS NOT CLEAR IF SENIOR NATO COMMANDERS ARE DEMANDING THAT THE ARMY BATTALION BE PULLED BACK INTO ITS BARRACKS.

WESTERN OBSERVERS EARLIER SAID THAT THE ARMY DEPLOYMENT COULD BE A WARNING TO THE K-L-A TO STOP ATTACKING SERB POLICE POSITIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PS/JWH
22-Oct-98 7:14 AM EDT (1114 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] NATO-KOSOVO (S/L VER) BY RON PEMSTEIN (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: MACEDONIA'S PRIME MINISTER, BRANKO CRVENIKOVSKI, HAS MET WITH NATO'S SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA IN BRUSSELS TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM NATO HEADQUARTERS THAT TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR YUGOSLAVIA TO AVOID NATO AIR STRIKES.

TEXT: NATO'S GRACE PERIOD FOR YUGOSLAVIA EXPIRES ON TUESDAY. IF THERE IS NO COMPLIANCE BY THEN, AIR STRIKES CAN BE LAUNCHED.

AFTER MEETING MACEDONIA'S PRIME MINISTER, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA SAYS YUGOSLAVIA IS STILL SHORT OF COMPLIANCE.

AT THIS MOMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) I CAN TELL YOU THERE IS STILL NO COMPLIANCE. SOME STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN, BUT WE STILL DON'T HAVE FULL COMPLIANCE ON THE GROUND BY THE ARMED FORCES. //OPT// AND WE HOPE THAT THE RETURN OF REFUGEES WILL CONTINUE. THE FLIGHTS WILL CONTINUE.

NATO IS STILL COORDINATING WITH THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (THE O-S-C-E) ABOUT PROTECTING THE TWO-THOUSAND UNARMED OBSERVERS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO VERIFY THE WITHDRAWAL OF YUGOSLAV TROOPS. THE SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE O-S-C-E OBSERVERS.

[03] TURKEY/U-S/OIL PIPELINE BY CHALLISS MCDONOUGH (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS USING FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO PRESSURE OIL COMPANIES TO BUILD A CASPIAN SEA OIL PIPELINE ALONG A U-S-BACKED ROUTE. THE UNITED STATES WILL GIVE MORE THAN 800-THOUSAND DOLLARS TO ANKARA TO HELP FUND THE PLANNING FOR TURKEY'S PART OF THE PROPOSED PIPELINE. V-O-A'S CHALLISS MCDONOUGH REPORTS.

TEXT: UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE STUART EIZENSTAT HAS ANNOUNCED AN 823-THOUSAND-DOLLAR GRANT TO SHORE UP PLANS FOR A PROPOSED CASPIAN OIL PIPELINE THROUGH TURKEY. THE MONEY -- FROM THE U-S TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY -- WILL FUND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PLANNING FOR A PIPELINE ROUTE THAT THE U-S FAVORS.

AN AGENCY SPOKESWOMAN SAYS THE GRANT AGREEMENT IS SCHEDULED TO BE SIGNED IN TURKEY TUESDAY (10/27). SHE SAYS IT WILL ALSO COVER FINANCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND LEGAL MATTERS FOR THE PIPELINE PROPOSAL.

THERE ARE SEVERAL ROUTES PROPOSED FOR GETTING OIL TO WORLD MARKETS FROM THE CASPIAN SEA REGION. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR A ROUTE TO THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA FROM THE AZERBAIJANI CAPITAL, BAKU. THE PIPELINE WOULD PASS THROUGH ARMENIA TO THE TURKISH CITY OF CEYHAN.

BUT OIL COMPANIES HAVE COMPLAINED THAT ROUTE IS TOO EXPENSIVE, WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF BETWEEN TWO-BILLION AND FOUR-BILLION DOLLARS. OTHER PROPOSED DESTINATIONS INCLUDE TWO PORTS ON THE BLACK SEA -- ONE IN GEORGIA, THE OTHER IN RUSSIA.

THE UNITED STATES PREFERS THE TURKISH ROUTE BECAUSE OF CIVIL CONFLICT IN GEORGIA AND INSTABILITY IN RUSSIA'S SOUTHERN CAUCASUS REGION.

IN SPITE OF UNCERTAINTY OVER THE OIL COMPANIES' PENDING DECISION, THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THAT THE BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE WILL BE BUILT. PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ IN ANKARA THURSDAY SAID HE THINKS THE INTERESTED PARTIES WILL REACH A FINAL AGREEMENT SOON.

THE LEADERS OF FOUR OF THE REGION'S OIL-RICH NATIONS -- AZERBAIJAN, KAZAKHSTAN, GEORGIA AND TURKMENISTAN -- ARE EXPECTED TO TRAVEL TO ANKARA AT THE END OF THE MONTH TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE BAKU-CEYHAN ROUTE ON OCTOBER 29TH, AT CELEBRATIONS FOR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TURKISH REPUBLIC. (SIGNED)
NEB/CEM/JO
22-Oct-98 3:02 PM EDT (1902 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] NY ECON WRAP (S&L) BY ELAINE JOHANSON (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES CLOSED UP IN THE UNITED STATES TODAY (THURSDAY) DESPITE SOME DISAPPOINTING CORPORATE EARNINGS REPORTS. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON HAS MORE FROM NEW YORK:

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 85 HUNDRED 33, A GAIN OF NEARLY 14 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX ALSO CLOSED UP -- EIGHT POINTS -- AT ONE THOUSAND SEVENTY-EIGHT. THIS MAKES IT THE SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE DAY OF GAINS IN THE MARKET.

INDUSTRIAL GIANT THREE-EM (3M -- MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY) POSTED THIRD QUARTER SALES AND PROFITS THAT WERE LOWER THAN THEY WERE THIS TIME LAST YEAR. AND THREE-EM PROJECTED FLAT EARNINGS FOR THE NEXT QUARTER DUE TO WEAKER SALES IN ASIA AND LATIN AMERICA. ALSO, CHEVRON JOINED THE LIST OF U-S OIL COMPANIES REPORTING LOSSES BECAUSE OF LOW CRUDE OIL PRICES. HOWEVER, THE IMPACT OF CORPORATE REPORTING WAS EASED SOMEWHAT BY LOWER EXPECTATIONS ON WALL STREET. ANALYSTS ALSO SAY THERE IS UNDERLYING STRENGTH IN THE U-S MARKET. RECENT GAINS WERE SPREAD OUT MORE BROADLY AMONG SMALLER AND MEDIUM-SIZED STOCKS.

ANALYST JOSEPH BATTIPAGLIA IS CONFIDENT ABOUT THE U-S ECONOMY, EVEN THE WORLD ECONOMY, AND HE EXPECTS MORE GAINS ON WALL STREET. WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO TURN HIM FROM "BULL" TO "BEAR"? NOTHING RIGHT NOW, HE SAYS:

IT WOULD HAVE TO BE THE ADVENT OF A RECESSION IN THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE. AND I'M LOOKING FOR IT, BUT I CAN'T FIND THE EVIDENCE. AND I HAVE THE FACT THAT A YEAR AND PLUS HAS GONE BY IN SOME OF THE EMERGING MARKETS THAT HAD BEEN HARDEST HIT AND THERE ARE SIGN OF RECOVERY THERE. AND THAT GIVES ME THE EXPECTATION THAT PERHAPS WE'LL HAVE BETTER STRENGTH IN THE FUTURE AS OPPOSED TO JUST MORE OF THE SAME.

CORPORATE EARNINGS REPORTS WERE ONCE AGAIN THE FOCUS ON WALL STREET. THEY WERE MIXED. BOEING, THE WORLD'S LARGEST AIRCRAFT MAKER, REPORTED BETTER THAN EXPECTED PROFITS BUT SAID IT MAY HAVE TO CUT PRODUCTION BECAUSE OF WEAKER DEMAND IN ASIA.

BUT THE SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY WAS ALSO ON THE NATION'S EIGHTH LARGEST OIL COMPANY, CONOCO. CONOCO MADE ITS DEBUT ON WALL STREET, AND WHAT A DEBUT IT WAS. IT WENT PUBLIC IN THE BIGGEST STOCK OFFERING EVER IN THE UNITED STATES.

PARENT COMPANY DUPONT WAS THRILLED. IN THE OFFERING, DUPONT SOLD 30 PERCENT OF CONOCO AND PLANS TO SELL THE REST NEXT YEAR. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/EJ/LSF/PT
22-Oct-98 5:15 PM EDT (2115 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE HURRIED WAY IN WHICH THE MAJORITY OF THE U-S FEDERAL BUDGET WAS RUSHED THROUGH CONGRESS CONTINUES TO DRAW CRITICISM IN THE EDITORIAL PAGES THIS THURSDAY. OTHER ITEMS INCLUDE SOME GOOD NEWS FOR HAITIANS IN THAT OMNIBUS BUDGET BILL; THE SITUATION IN YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE AND HOW NATO SHOULD HANDLE IT; AND WALL STREET BOUNCES BACK. NOW, HERE WITH US IS _________________ TO PRESENT SOME SAMPLES IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: "THE BOSTON GLOBE" CALLS THE WAY CONGRESS JUST PRODUCED THE MAJOR BUDGET BILL "A CORRUPTED LEGISLATIVE PROCESS," ADDING:

VOICE: AS CONGRESS LIMPS OUT OF WASHINGTON, ONE OF THE CHIEF REASONS FOR ITS INEFFECTIVENESS THIS SESSION CRIES OUT FOR REMEDIAL ACTION. THIS IS THE ATTEMPT TO SHACKLE NARROW SPECIAL-INTEREST PROVISIONS ONTO WORTHY LEGISLATION, OFTEN ON UNRELATED SUBJECTS. SOMETIMES THE NARROW PROVISIONS SURVIVE AND TARNISH NATIONAL POLICIES; FREQUENTLY THEY PULL THE LARGER BILL DOWN TO DEFEAT. WHILE THE HEADLINES HAVE BEEN DOMINATED BY THE CLINTON-LEWINSKY SCANDAL AND THE DIFFICULTIES INHERENT WHEN CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE ARE CONTROLLED BY DIFFERENT PARTIES, THE LONGER-STANDING PROBLEM OF DAMAGING RIDERS GREW THIS YEAR INTO A MAJOR HEADACHE. .... SHAMEFULLY, THE U-S DEBT TO THE UNITED NATIONS REMAINS UNPAID BECAUSE OF ANTIABORTION LANGUAGE THAT, WHILE SOFTENED SOMEWHAT, WOULD STILL RESTRICT U-S POLICY MAKERS.

TEXT: ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND, "NEWSDAY" IS NOT PLEASED EITHER, HEADLINING ITS EDITORIAL "A GROSSLY IRRESPONSIBLE WAY TO SPEND 520-BILLION," WHILE IN CALIFORNIA, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" IS EQUALLY CAUSTIC, HEADLINING ITS COMMENTARY A "BAD SMELL IN CONGRESS," AND POINTING OUT:

VOICE: NOT THE LEAST REMARKABLE THING ABOUT THE 520-BILLION DOLLAR SPENDING BILL PASSED BY THE HOUSE TUESDAY AND THE SENATE WEDNESDAY WAS HOW MANY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ROSE TO DENOUNCE IT AFTER ITS ENACTMENT. THE 4-THOUSAND-PAGE OMNIBUS PACKAGE INCLUDES FUNDING FOR TEN CABINET DEPARTMENTS, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WEEKS AGO, ALONG WITH SUCH OTHER OVERDUE MEASURES AS 18-BILLION DOLLARS TO REPLENISH THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND'S RESERVES. BUT IT IS ALSO LOADED WITH UNCOUNTED LAST-MINUTE ADD-ONS, INCLUDING INCUMBENT-BENEFITING PORK-BARREL GOODIES AND SPECIAL INTEREST TAX BREAKS [CONCESSIONS].

TEXT: BURIED SOMEWHERE IN THE FOUR THOUSAND PAGES WAS SOME VERY GOOD NEWS FOR A GROUP OF HAITIANS LIVING IN LEGAL LIMBO IN FLORIDA, AS "THE MIAMI HERALD" POINTS OUT.

VOICE: CONGRATULATIONS! - - TO THE HAITIAN EMIGRES WHO FINALLY WILL GET THEIR DUE. ... UNDER AN AGREEMENT SEALED LAST WEEK AND APPROVED BY THE HOUSE ... AND ... SENATE ... MORE THAN 40-THOUSAND HAITIANS WILL GET PERMANENT U-S RESIDENCY. MANY ARE SOUTH FLORIDIANS WHO HAVE LIVED IN LEGAL LIMBO FOR YEARS. ... AFTER THE SLEW [LARGE NUMBER] OF ANTI-IMMIGRANT LAWS IN 1996, IT DOES APPEAR THAT THE TIDE HAS TURNED. COMMENDABLY, CONGRESS -- AND MORE SIGNIFICANTLY ITS REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP -- THIS SESSION TURNED AWAY FROM ... MEAN-SPIRITED POSITIONS ON A NUMBER OF ... ISSUES. GOOD.

TEXT: TURNING TO THE TROUBLE IN KOSOVO PROVINCE, "PORTLAND'S [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" SAYS "NATO OUGHT TO HOLD [THE] SERBS TO [A] FIRM WITHDRAWAL" ADDING:

VOICE: ... NOBODY KNOWS IF THEY WILL HAVE ANY WITHDRAWALS TO MONITOR BY NEXT TUESDAY'S DEADLINE. IN FACT, THERE'S SPECULATION THE DEADLINE - - ALREADY EXTENDED ONCE - - WILL BE PUSHED BACK AGAIN. IT SHOULDN'T BE. THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF HUNDREDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN RESIDENTS OF KOSOVO ... HAS TO BE HELD TO HIS AGREEMENTS THIS TIME. SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC ... AGREED TO WITHDRAW MOST OF HIS FORCES, AND ALSO PLEDGED TO ALLOW INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES TO HELP REFUGEES AND TO AGREE WITH ETHNIC ALBANIANS ON A TIMETABLE FOR RESTORING A DEGREE OF SELF-RULE. .... NATO SHOULDN'T GIVE HIM ANY MORE TIME. THIS DEADLINE MUST BE MET - - OR THE BOMBERS WILL FLY.

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES," IN A RELATED EDITORIAL, WORRIES ABOUT THE STIFLING OF DISSENT WITHIN SERBIA BY MR. MILOSEVIC, WHILE THE WEST'S ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON KOSOVO.

VOICE: ON TUESDAY SERBIA'S PARLIAMENT PASSED A SUFFOCATING NEW LAW ON THE MEDIA, THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF THREATS AND ACTIONS AGAINST DISSENTERS THERE. AS ALWAYS, MR. MILOSEVIC'S TIMING IS DIABOLICALLY CLEVER. WESTERN OFFICIALS HAVE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CRITICIZED THESE ATTACKS ON SERBIA'S CIVIL SOCIETY, AFRAID TO ANGER THE LEADER THEY NEED TO DELIVER A DEAL ON KOSOVO. WASHINGTON HAS NOT YET REALIZED THAT THESE INDEPENDENT ACTIVISTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DEMOCRATIC SERBIA, THE BEST WAY TO BREAK MR. MILOSEVIC'S POWER. THE NEW ... LAW BANS THE BROADCAST OF SERBIAN-LANGUAGE FOREIGN PROGRAMS FROM /// OPT /// SERVICES SUCH AS /// END OPT /// ....THE VOICE OF AMERICA OR B-B-C, WHICH NEED LOCAL TRANSMISSIONS TO REACH LISTENERS WITHOUT SHORTWAVE RADIOS.

TEXT: IN ANOTHER EDITORIAL, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" IS PLEASED AT THE REBOUNDING ENTHUSIASM ON WALL STREET, AND IN OTHER MARKETS, AFTER A SERIOUS SLUMP BROUGHT ABOUT BY GLOBAL FINANCIAL TROUBLES.

VOICE: AFTER A SEASON OF WORRY THAT SENT PRICES PLUNGING AND SPARKED [CAUSED] TALK OF WORLD RECESSION, MANY OF THE WORLD'S FINANCIAL MARKETS HAVE RALLIED AMID OPTIMISM THAT THE WORST WILL BE AVOIDED. THE RECOVERIES ARE A WELCOME SIGN OF RENEWED INVESTOR CONFIDENCE IN THE ABILITY OF CENTRAL BANKS AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS TO PREVENT A SEVERE DOWNTURN.

MARKETS NOW ARE LIKELY TO BECOME A BIT LESS VOLATILE WHILE AWAITING EVIDENCE WHETHER THE LATEST EFFORTS TO BOOST WORLD GROWTH WILL BE ADEQUATE TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM.

TEXT: STILL ON THE DOMESTIC SCENE, SOME WORDS OF PRAISE FOR FORMER, AND NOW RETURNED, ASTRONAUT JOHN GLENN, FROM "THE ORLANDO SENTINEL."

VOICE: IF THE UNITED STATES HAD NO NEED FOR HEROES, FOR INSPIRING DEEDS OR FOR TAPPING MORE KNOWLEDGE FROM THE HEAVENS, SENATOR JOHN GLENN WOULDN'T BE RETURNING TO SPACE. BUT MR. GLENN PROPERLY WILL EMBARK ON HIS FINAL TRIP TO THE LAST FRONTIER NEXT WEEK BECAUSE THOSE NEEDS LOOM LARGE. .... AS A YOUNGER ASTRONAUT, MR. GLENN PRESENTED A ROLE MODEL OF STELLAR PROPORTIONS FOR THE YOUTH OF THIS NATION. TODAY, AS AMERICA'S OLDEST ASTRONAUT, HE STILL WEARS THAT HERO'S MANTLE.

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF TODAY'S U-S DAILY PAPERS./
NEB/ANG/KL
22-Oct-98 10:59 AM EDT (1459 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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